Furnace grate-bar.



I No. 710,569. Pat outed Oct. 7, I902; a. A. ELLIS.

FURNACE GRATE BAR.

-(App1ication filed June 13, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

WITNESSES IN VE N 7'01? 177' NEK Patented Oct.v 7, I902.

No. 7l0,569,..

G. A. ELLIS.

FURNACE GRATE- BAR.

(Application filed June 13, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

' INVENTOH. W W, Y B) ATTORNEY WITNESSES c0, wprmma, \nnsumawv. u c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. ELLIS, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEl/V YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE N. ROBINSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FURNACE GRATE-BAR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters IEatent No. 710,569, dated October 7 1 902. Application filed June 13, 1901. Serial No. 64,424. (No odel.)

To (tZZ whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. ELLIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of Westchester and 5 State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnace Grate- Bars, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention has special relation to that class of bars for furnace-grates commonly known as cutting-off bars-that is, bars which are rocked by means of depending projections-which are utilized to connect the I 5 several bars with a suitable bridle or connecting-piece, by means of which they are simultaneously operated in either direction.

The principal object of my invention is to simplify and improve the construction of the grate-bars above named. To accomplish this object and to secure other and further advantages in the matters of construction or manufacture, operation, use, and adaptability to various sizes and shapes of furnaces or grate-surfaces, myimprovements involve certain new and useful peculiarities of construction and relative arrangements or combinations of parts, as will be herein first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, I have shown at Figure 1 in end elevation twofurnace gratebars constructed and arranged in accordance with m y invention and involving my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of my improved grate-bars detached from its mountings and made up of two end pieces, one piece or section for connection with the bridle and two intermediate pieces or sections all mounted on a mandrel. Fig. 3 is afront elevation correspondingwithFigZ. FigAisaverticalview, partly in section and partly in elevation, on a plane through line :0 x of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a vertical view, partly in section and partly in elevation, like Fig. l, but showing a cylindrical mandrelinstead of one of angular form, as in said Fig. i. Fig. 6 is a vertical view,

partly in section and partly in elevation, on a plane at right angles to that of Figs. 4 or 5,

this View being on a smaller scale than previous views.

In all the figures like letters of reference wherever they occur indicate corresponding parts. 5 5

The several grate-bars going to make up the grate-surface, of whatever extent that may be, are each journaled at their ends and rocked by means of a connecting-bridle located below the journals, each complete bar being preferably slightly curved on top and having a front portion slightly sharpened, so as to effect the desired cutting off of the fuel, the bars being first rocked backwardly by moving the bridle forward, when the lower 6:, portions of the bars form pockets to receive a portion of the fuel, and then rocked forward to cutoff the pocketed portion from the remainder of the fire-bed and drop this portion into the ash-pit below. These bars are each composed of a number of independentlyformed pieces or sections represented at A,

B, C, B, and A, of which A and A are the end sections, these being preferably formed with teeth or projections on one side only.

B and B are independent sections having teeth or projections on each side, and these may be of the same or slightly-different widths.

O is another section diifering from those at B and 13' in that it is prolonged beyond them or otherwise suitably fashioned to receive or connect with the bridle, of whatever form the latter may be. Of these sections I may employ any desired number to make up the required length of grate-bar. The several sections are mounted upon a mandrel, preferably of wrought metal and preferably located so as to occupy the axis of movement of the bars, and the sections should be keyed or united in some suitable way, either with each other or with the mandrel, so that 'all the sections of the bar will move equally or simultaneously and practically preserve a uniform upper surface at all times. One form of mandrel is shown at D, the same being angular in cross-section throughout the greater portion of its length and fitting corresponding openings in the several sections. \Vith this it is plain that all the sections will be connected in the manner desired; but this an- 103 gular form is not always necessary. It may be replaced by a cylindrical mandrel, as at E, Fig. 5, and the various elements of the grate-bar keyed together in some other suitable mechanical way. One form of connection is shown at F, which is merely a coupling-rod passing through the lower portions of the various sections. This rod may be used in connection with the angular mandrel, if desired, or it may be omitted when not required to complete the union of the several sections. The angular mandrel (indicated in Figs. 1 to 4) is provided with cylindrical ends which enter bosses a a on the exterior of the end sections A A. These bosses are only employed when it is desired to replace an old form of grate-bar with the new form, the bosses then operating as trunnions or journals to fit in the bearings provided for the old form of bars. In new constructions or new work these bosses are omitted from the end sections, as shown in Fig. 6, and the angular or the cylindrical mandrel allowed to project to form the trunnion, the projecting end being purposely rounded when the angular mandrel is employed. In Fig. 6, A represents one of the end sections with the outside boss omitted.

The section 0 is supplied with a suitable projection c and this latter with an arm d at right angles thereto for the purpose of making a connection with the bridle by which the bars are to be simultaneously moved. It is to be understood, of course, that this is only one means of coupling with the bridle, and it may be replaced by any other suitable form of coupling.

G represents the bridle of any suitable form and of the desired length, the same being arranged to be connected with the sections C and to be operated, as by a suitable pitman or connecting-rod H, after the usual manner of operating cutting-off grate bars. The short sections A A B B of the grate-bar and also the longer section 0 being mounted on the mandrel D, all turn backward and forward when section G is turned by power applied to the prolongation 0; but instead of depending on the form of the mandrel or on keys between the sections and the mandrel to connect the several sections together,which would require a very strong and heavy mandrel, I employ the rod F at the lower end of the shorter sections, passing also through the longer section, but at some distance above its lower end. The location of this bridle with respect to'the grate-bars is often a matter of much importance, and frequently it is desired to change its location, as when it is desired to divide the grate into sectionsthat is, so that the grate instead of being entirely operated at one time may be operated throughout two or more different portions at difierent times. With the improved construction the section 0 for coupling with the bridle may be located at any desired part or point of the mandrel. Its location having been determined upon, the other sections B and B are slipped upon the mandrel and the end sections applied, the number of parts B and B employed being dependent upon the length of bar required to be produced. Within 0rdinary limits the various sections applied upon the mandrel in the desired numbers will produce the required length of grate-bar; but in cases of very small differences the hubs e e'ff g g or other hubs with which the abutting sections are supplied may be slightly ground away-as, for instance, on an emerywheel. These hubs maintain the various grate-bar sections at suitable distance from each other, so as to afford the desired passage of air for the support of combustion. To further increase the capability of the sections to produce the required length of gratebar, I may make one of the intermediate sections of about half the width of the others. The upper and lower spacing-hubs or hublike extensions on the webs project a little farther than the teeth on the leaf. I also provide lengthwise of the web one or more ribs f, projecting from the web a less distance than the spacing parts. These ribs reduce the openings through the bottoms of the fuel-pockets and at the same time leave ample openings for air. The various sections being placed upon the mandrel, they may be keyed thereto, as by any simple form of key, as at p p, and if the rod F is used suitable keys or pins, as q q, may serve to prevent accidental dislodgment. These keys or pins are only employed so that the composite grate-bar may be handled and placed same as if it were all cast in one solid piece.

With my improved construction but'four patterns are required, or at the most five, and these costing but a very few dollars. With these small patterns of the different sections of the grate-bar I can utilize the process of machine-molding to very great advantage and at a very great saving of expense.

Being constructed and arranged. substantially in accordance with the foregoing explanations, the improved grate-bar will be found to admirably answer all the purposes or objects of the invention hereinbefore alluded to.

The upper end of a section is called the fuel-supporting leaf and the lower part the leaf-supporting web. It will be seen that the leaf-teeth have their full or largest crosssection at the base and that therefrom to the outer ends of the teeth there are no undercut portions or any depressions which when the section is cast horizontallythat is, with its teeth vertical-would be filled with metal,and consequently be incapable of removal without injuring the mold. In some old oonstructions grate-bars have had teeth of such shape that the bar was necessarily cast with the leaf-supporting webs in a vertical plane,

requiring a deep mold. Moreover, such constructions requirea bar to be cast as awhole and not 1n sections, as in my case. By making a web thinner than the leaf with its teeth and by separating the bodies of the sections on the mandrel by lugs on the webs large spaces or passages for air are provided. In two of the forms illustrated the hubs on the webs form the separating-lugs. In Fig. 4t such hub only half surrounds the mandrelopening, as at p; but it is suflicient to strengthen the bearing and to space the sections.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, in a grate-bar, of several short sections, and a long section, adapted to be supported side by side, a mandrel on which the sections are non-rotatably held, each section having a fuel-supporting leaf, and a leaf-supporting-web, said leaf having side teeth for partially closing the space between the sections but leaving free passage for air, a rod extending through the lower ends of the short sections and through the long section above its lower end, as set forth.

2. In a grate-bar section, a fuel-supporting leaf, side teeth thereon with spaces between the teeth, a leaf-supporting web, extensions projecting from the web farther than said teeth, and one or more longitudinal ribs projecting from said web a less distance than said extensions, whereby when several sec- 1 tions are assembled the webs form fuel-pockets with passages for air between the webs.

3. In a grate-bar section, a fuel-supporting leaf, side teeth thereon with spaces between the teeth, a leaf-supporting web, upper and lower hub-like extensions projecting from the web farther than said teeth, and one or more longitudinal ribs projecting from said web a less distance than said extensions, whereby when several sections are assembled the webs form fuel-pockets with passages for air between the webs.

i. In a grate-bar section, a fuel-supporting leaf, side teeth thereon with spaces between the teeth, a leaf-supporting web, hub-like extensions projecting from the web farther than said teeth, and one or-more longitudinal ribs projecting from said web a less distance than said extensions, and between the leaf and the lower hub-like extension.

5. In a grate-bar section,afuel-supporting leaf, a downwardly-extending web, sectionseparating means, and a longitudinal rib f on the Web.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE A. ELLIS.

Witnesses:

WORTH Oseoon, O. SEDGVVICK. 

